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Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Pena's walkoff homer lifts Rattlers to win in game one

April 16, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAND CHUTE, WI - Jose Pena finished an up-and-down eighth inning on a high note with a three-run, walkoff home run to cap the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 10-7 comeback victory over the Lansing Lugnuts Wednesday night in game one of a doubleheader at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

DJ Davis started the game with a bunt single that hugged the third base line and clipped the left corner of the bag. Mitch Nay drove him in from second base with a two-out single to put Lansing (3-8) up 1-0.

The Rattlers (7-4) had runners at second and third with two outs in the bottom of the first. Jose Pena lifted a fly ball deep to left-center, but Davis denied the Rattlers any runs with a spectacular diving catch for the final out of the frame.

Wisconsin grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Taylor Brennan and David Denson reached on singles and an error moved both of them into scoring position. Rafael Neda drove in Brennan with a grounder. Angel Ortega drove in Denson with a sacrifice fly and the Rattlers were up 2-1.

The Lugnuts went back in front with a two-out rally in the top of the third. Wisconsin starting pitcher Taylor Williams retired the first two batters of the inning, but walked Dickie Joe Thon to extend the inning. Matt Dean lined the next pitch over the wall in left for a two-run homer.

Lansing extended their lead with three runs in the top of the fourth. Derrick Loveless knocked in the first two runs of the inning with a single. He would score on a double to left by Davis.

The Rattlers came back again in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lansing starting pitcher Jairo Labourt walked the first three batters of the inning. Ortega drove in two with a double and knocked Labourt out of the game. Omar Garcia greeted Lugnut reliever Brady Dagmire with a two-run double to tie the game 6-6.

Lansing broke the tie with an unearned run off Wisconsin reliever Tyler Alexander in the top of the seventh. Jason Leblebijian started the inning and reached second when there were two errors on his grounder to third base. Alexander got the next two outs. He appeared to get the third out when Loveless sent a fly ball to left. But, the wind fooled Pena. He came in on the ball and the wind blew the ball to the warning track for an RBI double and a 7-6 lead.

The Rattlers rallied again in the bottom of the ninth. Chris McFarland hustled into second with a one out double.and Michael Ratterree drew a walk, his third of the game. Clint Coulter's grounder to the hole deflected off the glove of shortstop Dawel Lugo for an error and McFarland raced home with the tying run. That brought Pena to the plate with a chance to redeem his miscue in the top of the inning.

Pena, who hit ten home runs in the Arizona League during the 2013 season, lifted a deep fly down the left field line and it stayed fair for his first home run of the season to give the Rattlers a 10-7 win in game one of the doubleheader.

The win was the third straight for the Rattlers. The loss was the fifth straight for the Lugnuts.

Game two is starting soon.

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